Maria took another breath. “Lord Dumount is with him.”
Her eyes widened. The words struck her like a slap, stunning her into immobility. Dumount was with him? What was he doing with her brother?
“Ella, be kind,” Father Barnaby said, moving to her side. “Forgiveness is one of the greatest rewards from our Father.”
Ella whirled on him. “You knew,” she said softly, and then with more conviction. “You knew Miles was returning and Dumount was with him.”
Father Barnaby sighed. “I received a missive from your brother a week ago.” He nodded. “I knew.”
Furious, Ella could only stare at the plump priest. She felt a stab of betrayal before a tidal wave of rage crashed down over her shoulders. Dumount. In her home?! She whirled and stormed toward the castle. She couldn’t run. She could only walk. Her entire body was filled with an anger that clenched every one of her muscles. Her fists were tight. How dare he enter her home? Edwin’s home!
Ella moved beneath the raised portcullis, ignoring the sharp metal poised above her head. She walked into the outer ward to see a long line of horses. Soldiers dismounted and lingered in the courtyard. Many greeted her with a bow, but she was so furious she could not return the greeting. Her gaze swept over them, searching. But she didn’t see her brother or the murderer.
She moved into the inner ward, ignoring quizzical stares from the merchants and villagers who happened to be there to welcome her brother. She entered the keep and marched through the halls of the castle, unaware of Maria, the servant girl, trailing her. How dare he set foot inside?
Servants cringed out of the way, a knight bowed slightly.
She paid none of them attention. Single minded, she entered the open double doors of the Great Hall to hear laughter echoing across the expanse. She scanned the room to see two men lounging near the hearth and the warm fire. She recognized Miles immediately and her gaze slid from her brother to the man standing beside him. Silhouetted against the fires in the hearth, he stood taller than Miles and broader of shoulder. His dark hair hung to his shoulders.
She marched across the Great Hall, her feet crunching through the rushes. Graden Dumount turned to her as she approached, a grin slowly fading from his lips. She struck his face, the slap reverberating through the Hall.
Silence fell over the room.
“Ella!” Miles erupted from beside her and immediately took up a protective spot beside Graden.
“How dare you come here? How dare you enter this castle?” she demanded, her voice echoing from wall to wall.
“Ella,” Miles stated in a firm warning.
Even her brother could not dissipate the rage burning through her veins. “He is not welcome in this castle.”
Graden nodded to Miles. “It’s alright. I’ll camp outside the walls of the castle.” He looked at her again. “My apologies, m’lady.”
“No,” Miles said firmly, placing a hand on Graden’s chest to stop him.
Ella’s mouth opened in shock. Miles was taking Dumount’s side? Allowing him to enter their home?!
“Graden will remain in the castle as a guest,” Miles proclaimed loudly.
Ella felt as though a dagger had been plunged into her heart and twisted. How could Miles allow him into Edwin’s home? Hurt, furious, she whirled to storm away. Miles caught her arm and walked with her.
She tried to pull her arm from his hold, but he held her tightly. Did he think he could just return and take over control of the castle, invite Edwin’s killer inside? What was he thinking?
Miles led her into the corridor outside of the Great Hall and turned to face her. His lips were turned down in displeasure, his brown eyes snapping with warning. “Graden is welcome inside Castle Rames.”
“He most certainly is not,” Ella whispered harshly. She had never backed down from a fight with Miles and this matter was too important to do so now. “Not after what he did to Edwin. How can you not remember?”
“Of course I remember. How could I forget?”
“Then how can you welcome him here? This is Edwin’s home.”
“It’s my home, too.”
“It is disrespectful to our brother, to his memory. How can you excuse what Dumount did so easily?”
“So easily?” Miles repeated in shock, his eyebrows raising. Then, his gaze softened. “Do you know me so little?” Ella opened her mouth to respond, but Miles continued, “I didn’t excuse it. Not for a long time. I felt the same way you do. I would have run him through on sight. But then I found out he would be fighting the French with me. Fighting beside me. That I would have to depend on him to watch my back.” Miles shook his head, his lips quirked in tainted remembrance.
Ella placed a hand on her hip. “And you didn’t run him through then?”
